Who is this Cary guy and what does he do?
Good question. There is no easy way to describe it, so we
put it in outline form to make some sense of it.
I. Background
information:
Cary "CKP" Kanno has been playing music for over
15 years. He has logged over 1000 stage performances as a
solo act and with multiple bands and has been writing and
making music for over 14 years... albeit he wrote his 1st
song at the age of 12 and it took 6 years before the next
song was created. But nonetheless has been a prolific songwriter
and performer ever since. His 1st band, "PCP (aka Pete
Cary Pete)" was formed while attending Oak Park River
Forest High School in the western suburbs of Chicago.
A few years later while attending the University
of Wisconsin, Madison he assembled "the Everyday Weekends"
and for the first time performed original compositions at
public shows. The band, although wildly successful at the
UW had a shelf life and eventually parted ways as members
graduated.
After returning to Chicago in 2000 He formed
a talented new quartet called "Traveling Riverside"
which soon included Seth Vanek, Matt Sherrell, and Rusty Ehler.
Around the same time he began collaborating with a trio of
emcees, Cameron McIntosh, Mark Mathis, and Andres Roldan.
With Traveling Riverside providing the backing music and the
emcees fronting the band, the absTRACT giANTS were born. Andy
Lempera, Jason VinLuan, and Matt Conway were soon invited
into the mix.
II. Band #1 Abstract
Giants:
The AG's have performed hundreds of shows throughout the country
in their 4 year existence. They are being called one of the
best underground live hip hop bands around and have played
shows with Lyrics Born, Zion I, Jean Grae, The Coup, Poi Dog
Pondering, Bernie Worrell (of Parliament and Talking Heads),
Fareed Haque, Atmosphere, Eyeda, POS. They have played such
venues as: The Tweeter Center (Warped Tour), House Of Blues,
Congress Theater, and Metro.
III. Band #2
Doko Benjo:
Due to lack of better things to do, Cary formed another 8
member funk/ rock group called Doko Benjo. They are a dynamic
band that features Cary on lead vocals and guitar, a female
singer, and the DB horn section. Very up-tempo and family
friendly they are a great band for festivals and club shows.
They have had the pleasure of playing some big gigs including
opening up for Rusted Root at the House of Blues, and playing
before John Mayer , Gabriella Y Rodrigo, and Robert Randolph
at the Taste of Chicago. They recently released their 2nd
CD which is self titled.
IV. Band #3 Cary
"CKP" Kanno Solo Acoustic:
Cary plays several acoustic show's every week. Venues range
from private parties, bar gigs, clubs, corporate events, colleges,
weddings, and more. His library of over 500 songs cover the
gamut from rock to funk to folk, to pop. He is a very strong
guitar player, using a loop sampler to lay down multiple guitar
and vocal lines in a live setting. Weather playing at a wedding,
a party, or a bar he is always good at reading his audience
and plays songs that appeal to crowds.
V. Cary the producer,
promoter, and studio musician: This could very well be 3 categories but since I'm
trying to avoid writing a book we'll combine them. Cary has
played guitar , pedal steel, bass, harmonica, percussion,
and sang on many studio sessions. A song he composed and played
all the instruments on was recently picked up and licenced
by the Showtime Network and featured in a commercial for the
TV show "Weeds".
Cary has also spearheaded the organization
known as "The Chicago Drop", which is a collaboration
of 8 hip hop bands in Chicago. They have put out 2 very successful
compilation discs ("The Chicago Drop Vol 1 and Vol 2")
and has been praised by: The Chicago SunTimes, Chicago Tribune,
Reader, New City, Illinois Entertainer, Pioneer Press, The
Onion, Timeout Chicago, Red Eye, Red Streak, etc.
Cary Kanno in the news:
Illinois Entertainer: Keeping
it Live
Article about Cary Kanno and the Chicago Drop
Pioneer Press: Favorites
of 2006 Article about Cary Kanno's favorites for 2006
Depaul University Depaulia: The
Sum of All Parts
Article about Cary Kanno and the Chicago Drop
